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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
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All 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
341 words
lagoon
C2
/ləˈguːn/
a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
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bloodstream
B2
/ˈblʌdˌstriːm/
The blood as it flows around the body.
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cosmetic
C2
/kɑːzˈmɛtɪk/
a preparation applied to the body, especially the face or hair, to clean it or improve its appearance
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mannequin
B2
/ˈmænɪkɪn/
a life-size model of the human body used to display or fit clothing
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newt
C2
/nuːt/
a small semiaquatic salamander whose adults typically have a lizard-like body and flattened tail
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knuckle
C2
/ˈnʌkəl/
one of the joints of a finger, especially when the hand is closed
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holster
C1
/ˈhoʊl.stɚ/
a fitted case worn on the body for carrying a handgun or another tool safely and accessibly
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aorta
C2
/eɪˈɔr.tə/
the body's main artery, carrying oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart into the systemic circulation
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os
C2
/ɑs/
a bone, especially when identified by a Latin anatomical name
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armpit
C2
/ˈɑːrm.pɪt/
the hollow beneath the shoulder where the arm joins the body
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diaphragm
C1
/ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/
the sheet of muscle below the lungs that contracts and relaxes during breathing
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balm
C2
/bɑm/
a soothing or medicinal ointment applied to the skin
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femur
C2
/ˈfiːmɚ/
the thighbone; the long bone between the hip and knee in a vertebrate
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excrement
C2
/ˈɛkskɹəmənt/
waste matter (as urine or sweat but especially feces) discharged from the body
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inflammation
B2
/ɪnfləˈmeɪ̯ʃən/
A red, hot, painful, and swollen part of the body, caused by injury or infection.
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tetanus
C1
/ˈtɛtənəs/
a serious infection caused by Clostridium tetani, marked by painful muscle stiffness and spasms
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scab
C2
/skæb/
a dry crust of blood and tissue that forms over a wound while it heals
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pimple
B1
/ˈpɪm.pəl/
a small inflamed raised spot on the skin, often containing pus
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catheter
C1
/ˈkæθɪtɚ/
a thin flexible tube inserted into the body to permit introduction or withdrawal of fluids or to keep the passageway open
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forearm
B2
/ˈfɔɹˌɑɹm/
the part of the arm between the elbow and the wrist
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stinger
C1
/ˈstɪŋɚ/
a sharp organ used by an insect, scorpion, stingray, or other animal to wound or inject venom
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parchment
C1
/ˈpɑɹtʃmənt/
the specially prepared skin of a sheep, goat, or calf, formerly used as a durable writing surface
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jugular
C1
/ˈdʒʌɡjəlɚ/
one of the large veins in the neck that carry blood from the head back toward the heart
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scrotum
C2
/ˈskroʊtəm/
the external pouch of skin and muscle that contains the testes in most male terrestrial mammals
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nosebleed
B2
/ˈnoʊz.bliːd/
an occasion when blood flows from the nose
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chloride
B1
/ˈklɔːr.aɪd/
the negatively charged chlorine ion, Cl−, found in many salts and serving as an important electrolyte in body fluids
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blister
C1
/ˈblɪstɚ/
A small bubble on the skin filled with fluid, caused by rubbing, burning, or irritation.
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pyre
C2
/ˈpaɪɚ/
A large pile of wood on which a dead body is burned as a funeral rite.
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flipper
B2
/ˈflɪp.ɚ/
a broad, flat limb adapted for swimming in animals such as whales, seals, turtles, and plesiosaurs
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crease
B2
/ˈkriːs/
A line or fold made in cloth, paper, or skin by pressing or folding.
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gangrene
C2
/ˈɡæŋˌɡɹiːn/
the death and decay of body tissue, usually caused by loss of blood supply and sometimes complicated by infection
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cartilage
C1
/ˈkɑɹ.təl.ɪd͡ʒ/
firm, flexible connective tissue found in joints and in structures such as the nose and outer ear
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sunburn
B1
/ˈsʌnˌbɝn/
red, sore, or damaged skin caused by too much exposure to sunlight
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amputation
C2
/ˌæm.pjəˈteɪ.ʃən/
the surgical removal of all or part of a limb or other body part
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centipede
B2
/ˈsɛntɪˌpiːd/
a predatory arthropod of the class Chilopoda, with a flattened segmented body and one pair of legs on each leg-bearing segment
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armadillo
B2
/ɑɹməˈdɪloʊ/
a burrowing mammal of the Americas whose body is protected by jointed bony plates
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dissection
C1
/dɪˈsɛkʃən/
The act of cutting open a body to study its parts.
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salve
C1
/sæ(l)v/
A soothing cream or ointment put on the skin to heal it.
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sternum
B2
/ˈstɝnəm/
the flat bone at the front of the chest to which the ribs or their cartilages attach; the breastbone
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retina
B2
/ˈɹɛt.ə.nə/
The light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye that sends images to the brain.
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tibia
C2
/ˈtɪbiə/
the larger, inner bone of the lower leg between the knee and ankle; the shinbone
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vigor
B2
/ˈvɪɡɚ/
Strength, energy, and enthusiasm of body or mind.
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clavicle
C2
/ˈklævɪkəl/
the collarbone, a curved bone joining the breastbone to the shoulder blade
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larynx
C2
/ˈlɛɹ.ɪŋks/
A hollow muscular organ of the neck of mammals situated just below where the tract of the pharynx splits into the trachea and the oesophagus. It is involved in breath control and protection of the trachea, and, as it houses the vocal cords, sound production.
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eyelid
B2
/ˈaɪ.lɪd/
The piece of skin that moves down to cover and open the eye.
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tendon
C2
/ˈtɛndən/
a strong band of fibrous connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone and transmits the muscle's force
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ventricle
C2
/ˈvɛntrɪkəl/
either of the two lower chambers of the heart, which receive blood from an atrium and pump it into an artery
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somersault
C1
/ˈsʊməˌsɒlt/
A movement in which you roll your body in a full circle, with your feet going over your head.
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sphincter
C2
/ˈsfɪŋktɚ/
anatomy: a ring of muscle that contracts to narrow or close a bodily opening or passage
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parakeet
C1
/ˈpɛɹəkit/
any of numerous small or medium-sized parrots with a slender body and a long tail
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ligament
C2
/ˈlɪɡəmənt/
a strong band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or supports an organ in the body
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pore
C2
/poɹ/
A tiny opening in the skin.
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tentacle
C1
/ˈtɛn.t̬ə.kəl/
a long, flexible organ of an animal, used for touching, grasping, feeding, or movement
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bangle
C2
/ˈbæŋ.ɡəl/
a stiff ornamental bracelet or anklet, usually slipped over the hand or foot or closed with a clasp
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freckle
C2
/ˈfrekəl/
a small, flat, pale-brown or reddish spot of pigment on the skin, often made darker by sunlight
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estuary
C2
/ˈɛst͡ʃuˌɛɹi/
A coastal water body where ocean tides and river water merge, resulting in a brackish water zone.
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curtsy
C2
/ˈkɝtsi/
a formal gesture of greeting or respect made by bending the knees and lowering the body
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tumbler
C1
/ˈtʌmblɚ/
One who tumbles; one who plays tricks by various motions of the body.
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poultice
C2
/ˈpoʊltɪs/
a soft, moist, often heated mass applied to the body to soothe inflammation, pain, or infection
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plumage
C2
/ˈpljuːmɪd͡ʒ/
The feathers covering a bird's body.
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humerus
C2
/ˈhjuːməɹəs/
The bone of the upper arm.
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waterway
C2
/ˈwɔtɝˌweɪ/
A body of water, such as a river, channel or canal, that is navigable.
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scruff
C2
/skɹʌf/
the back of the neck, especially the loose skin or fur there on an animal
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redness
C1
/ˈrɛdnəs/
a response of body tissues to injury or irritation
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cheekbone
B2
/ˈtʃiːkˌboʊn/
the prominent bone below and beside the eye that forms the upper part of the cheek and part of the eye socket
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rickets
C2
/ˈrɪk.ɪts/
a childhood disorder in which poor bone mineralization, often from vitamin D deficiency, makes bones soft or deformed
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cartwheel
B2
/ˈkɑrtˌwiːl/
an acrobatic movement in which the body turns sideways through an inverted position with the arms and legs extended
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pirouette
C2
/ˌpɪrəˈwɛt/
a rapid complete turn of the body on one foot or on the toes, especially in ballet
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scabies
C2
/ˈskeɪbiːz/
a contagious skin infestation caused by itch mites that burrow into the outer skin, producing intense itching and a pimple-like rash
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undershirt
C2
/ˈʌndɝˌʃɝːt/
a lightweight undergarment worn on the upper body beneath a shirt
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snakeskin
C2
/ˈsneɪkˌskɪn/
the skin shed by or removed from a snake, especially leather prepared from snake skin
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wheal
C2
/wiːl/
a raised mark or swelling on the skin, especially one caused by a blow, pressure, or an allergic reaction
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welt
C2
/wɛlt/
a raised, often red mark on the skin caused by a blow, pressure, or irritation
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sheepskin
C2
/ˈʃiːpˌskɪn/
the skin of a sheep, especially when tanned as leather or used with the fleece still attached
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epidermis
C2
/ˌepəˈdɝmɪs/
the outer layer of the skin in vertebrate animals, lying above the dermis
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musculature
C2
/ˈmʌs.kjə.lə.tʃɚ/
the muscles of a body or body part considered together, especially their arrangement and development
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chela
C2
/ˈkiː.lə/
a pincerlike claw at the end of a limb of a crustacean or arachnid
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lich
C2
/lɪtʃ/
archaic: a corpse or dead body, surviving especially in compounds such as lich-gate or lych-gate
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sinew
C2
/ˈsɪny/
a tough cord or tendon connecting muscle to bone
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cuticle
C2
/ˈkjuːtɪkəl/
the thin layer of dead skin at the base and sides of a fingernail or toenail
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camisole
C1
/ˈkæm.ɪ.soʊl/
a short, sleeveless undergarment for the upper body, traditionally worn by women
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tonsil
B2
/ˈtɑːn.səl/
either of the two visible masses of lymphatic tissue at the back of the throat
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fascia
C2
/ˈfæʃə/
a sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue that surrounds, separates, or binds muscles and organs
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vellum
C2
/ˈvɛləm/
fine parchment prepared from the skin of a young animal e.g. a calf or lamb
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constriction
C2
/kənˈstɹɪk.ʃən/
a tight feeling in some part of the body
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liturgy
C2
/ˈlɪtɚd͡ʒi/
a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship
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promontory
C2
/ˈpɹɑməntɔɹi/
A high point of land extending into a body of water, headland; cliff.
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talus
C2
/ˈteɪləs/
anatomy: the ankle bone that articulates with the tibia and fibula above and the calcaneus below
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millipede
B2
/ˈmɪlɪpiːd/
an elongated terrestrial arthropod of the class Diplopoda, with most apparent body segments bearing two pairs of legs
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cautery
C2
/ˈkɔtəri/
the medical destruction or sealing of tissue by heat, cold, electricity, or a caustic substance, especially to stop bleeding
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molt
C2
/ˈmoʊlt/
periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles
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foramen
C2
/fəˈɹeɪ.mən/
An opening, an orifice, or a short passage, especially in a bone.
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transmigration
C2
/ˌtɹænzmaɪˈɡɹeɪʃən/
the passage of a soul after death into another body or form of life
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flexor
C2
/ˈflɛksɚ/
a muscle whose contraction bends a joint or reduces the angle between body parts
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cowhide
C2
/ˈkaʊˌhaɪd/
strong leather made from the skin of a cow
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ganglion
C2
/ˈɡæŋ.ɡli.ən/
a cluster of nerve-cell bodies, usually outside the brain and spinal cord, that acts as a relay point for nerve signals
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